BETRAYAL

Life as a mermaid can be suffocating. Eviana
Dumahl has returned home as a clan leader, an orphan, and a heartbroken
teenage girl. Her parents are dead and her boyfriend, Brendan, has
decided that he needs some time away. While battling her inner turmoil,
Eviana is forced into the war that Lucian Sutherland has incited amongst
her own kind. With the help of Kain, her friend and formally betrothed,
the two work together to prove that they deserve their birthrights as
young merfolk leaders.

When the Council requests a demonstration
of Eviana’s mermaid powers, she finds herself with an opportunity to win
back Brendan’s heart. But her orders to train with a repulsive merman
and the presence of an attractive new suitor challenges Eviana to
embrace her leadership and resist temptation. Lucian is after her, and
no one seems to understand why. Loyalties are tested as the casualties
increase, showing Eviana that sometimes it is impossible to delineate
between friends and enemies.

Betrayal is the second book of The
Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends as they navigate
through the challenges of existing in a secret world.

Everyone accepted that
people were different physically. But inside? Inside, they were
different too. You just had to know how to tell, what to look for. Evil
has been eradicated. The City has been established. And citizens may
only enter after having the 'evil' part of their brain removed. They are
labelled on the System according to how 'good' they are. If they show
signs of the evil emerging, they are labelled a K ...But no one knows
quite what that means. Only that they disappear, never to be seen again
...

VENGEANCE BOUND

The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen’s quest for revenge…no matter how far it takes her.

Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made
when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the
serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust.
After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows
how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by
night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings
down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy
named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about
him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy.
But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust,
or are there greater factors at work?

As
Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for
control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what
she’s worked so hard to build.

Tess
is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living
in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having
returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with
Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still
stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So
she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see
Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has
been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the
dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.

NATURALS is the second book in The Lost Souls trilogy, and follows the dystopian hit CHOSEN ONES.

MINDER

Sixteen-year-old Maddie
Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new
abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training
facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing
place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A
stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares
don't always stay in their own heads. But it's still better than New
Jersey--especially once she meets the man of her dreams...

FLUKES

Meena has a secret
guarded closely by her family—a secret as dangerous as the sea, and
buried just as deep. When court appointed community service workers are
assigned to Flukes, the family-owned animal sanctuary, everyone is on
high alert. It doesn’t help that Meena finds herself attracted to
sexy-as-sin Blake Weathering, one of the new workers. If he wasn’t so
distracting, she might be able to land Flukes a much-needed cruise line
contract.

Blake Weathering, the first in his family to attend
public school, has developed a tough image. Unfortunately it lands him
in trouble. Now banned from his high school graduation ceremony, getting
his diploma is dependent upon a community service gig cleaning fish
crap. No diploma, no trust fund fortune—and no way to escape his
overbearing father. The last thing he needs is the distraction of a
mysterious girl with teal eyes who pulls at his heart strings.

When
Blake discovers Meena’s secret, they are both thrown into a desperate
search for information about her past. Two worlds pull them in opposite
directions, and they will have to fight to hold onto all that really
matters.

CIAO

Melissa has had a
fantastic summer hanging out with her friends and making new ones. Life
as she knows it will change when they all come together to begin their
sophomore year at Dearborn High. Connections will be made and
friendships will be tested. Will Melissa’s family and friends be able to
help her through the challenges she will face in the upcoming months?

THE EVELYN PROJECT

Evelyn’s father did everything in his power to save his dying daughter,
black magic included. But when a century later his plea for help gets
into the wrong hands, all hell breaks loose. Caught in the slippery
battlefield between the Vatican and a cult that wants to change the
past, a young Italian professor and a beautiful French actress are too
busy running away from murder and conspiracy to let physical attraction
develop into love. And it further complicates things when Her
Majesty’s Secret Service decides to take an interest in what everyone
else is doing to pull some strings of its own. Love that lasts through
the veils of time, a mystery, and a race to end a conspiracy, “The
Evelyn Project” is a story that will stir both your heart and your
intellect.

SHAEDES OF GRAY

"I'd learned the
hard way that love is nothing more than the sharpest blade, and it can
easily be turned against you. I refused to let anyone have that kind of
power over me ever again."

Darian has lived alone for almost
a century in the shadows of the night. Made and abandoned by her former
love, Darian is the last of her kind—an immortal Shaede who can slip
into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she
has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a
deadly assassin.

Darian finds herself struggling to keep her
employer, Tyler, at arm's length, especially since his seductive smile
makes her want to break her rules about love. The work he offers is
necessary to protect the innocent—and a welcome distraction. But when
Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede
Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to
wonder if she has taken on more than her conscience will allow, but a
good assassin never leaves a job unfinished.

PROMISES

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

When
seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an
arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between
the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply
infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a
wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a
shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon
her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences
far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing
amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate
schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she
has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends.
Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana
discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever
suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her
friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly
tried to escape.

Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series
trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing
up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society.

FALSE MEMORY

Miranda wakes up alone
on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious
energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a
boy who isn't at all surprised by Miranda's shocking ability. Left
with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was
trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of
genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers
strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn't
easy--especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving. Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run.
Suddenly her past doesn't seem to matter...when there may not be a
future. Dan Krokos' debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that
will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful
new series.

SEDUCING CINDERELLA

Mixed martial arts
fighter Reid Andrews’s chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight
champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To
make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under
a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized
and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d
do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so
when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning
for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds him himself in the fight of his life...winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.

MY PAPER HEART

There are worse things
in life than failing out of college- such as having your parents receive
the letter that you’ve been kicked out.

Now to appease her parents
self-proclaimed sorority princess Libby Gentry is packing up her Prada
bag and heading to work for her great aunt’s antique store in tiny
Elsbury, Louisiana. She’s pretty sure she can tackle the swamp and deal
with her great aunt and tom boy of a little cousin, but what she
doesn’t know is if she can handle the local town playboy, Blaine
Crabtree.

As Libby's feelings for Blaine grow, so does her need
for acceptance and all of the insecurities she has kept inside are
coming out. She may have survived the Louisiana swamp, but she may not
survive Blaine's reluctance to say the 'L' word. When Blaine finally
commits to the three words Libby’s been waiting for, she only hopes they
haven’t come too late.

**This book does contain some mild language and sexual content. It is meant for upper YA readers**

Libby's story will reach the hearts of young women in many walks of life. She's lost, vulnerable, and drowning in the woes of a negative self-image. Until she's sent to Louisiana, as punishment for failing out of her first year of college, Libby doesn't know what it's like to be comfortable in her own skin. This coming-of-age story will captivate readers between its strong romance, tear-jerking moments, and everyday teenage worries.

The content of the novel is meant for upper YA readers, yet Vernon stays true to the teenage voice. When it comes to talk of sexual conduct, the characters speak in a way so as to not stray from the novel's intended audience. The language and content isn't too graphic for readers who enjoy mature themes in young adult fiction. One wish for this story is that Vernon delved a little deeper into Libby's tendency to purge food after eating. It's referred to throughout the novel, but the possible consequences weren't explored, leaving the situation slightly overlooked.

Readers will beg for more of Libby's growing personality and eccentric, but lovable, family. My Paper Heart is highly recommended!

Character chemistry is about much more than a pair of beautiful
blue eyes. (Though, a pair of beautiful blue eyes doesn’t hurt).

But how can a writer convey this? How can the reader FEEL the chemistry between the characters?

For
me, it’s all about the emotional attachment. Both characters have to
have something at stake, something that puts them together and tears
them apart at the same time.

I’m better with examples, so let’s review my own characters:

In
HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN, Alex is thrust into a situation in which she has
to work alongside aliens in an alien operations center. The first moment
she meets Ace is when he saves her life. If the gorgeous looks weren’t
enough he has the whole knight andshining armor thing going for him. But
what’s at stake for them? What makes them fall so head over heels for
each other that they are willing to possibly start an intergalactic war?

Well, first, there is Alex’s emotional investment in
Ace. He’s saved her life, he reads her blog, and he puts up with her
when she asks him if he’s wearing guyliner. Then let’s throw in the fact
that people don’t want them together, Alex literally is pulledaway from
him time and time again, but there is something that keeps drawing her
back. There’s that tug of the heart that shows how deeply rooted her
emotional attachment is to Ace with how he is the only one that can make
her feel comfortable whether she iswith humans or aliens.

Then we feel Ace’s attraction to her. It’s slow
building with little hints of flirting, but then it builds up until
there is a beautiful crescendo and he admits that after all the back and
forth bantering that he is falling in love with a human girl.

What is it about this chemistry that keeps us reading?
For me, what is at stake for the characters is what keeps me turning the
pages. Whether we know the two characters love each other or whether we
are holding our breath to see when they will actuallykiss, that back
and forth feeling keeps us on the edge of our seats and creates a
perfect wind of unpredictable chemistry.

Since this is the My Paper Heart blog tour, I GUESS I
can give a little teaser of a scene in My Paper Heart with a little bit
of character chemistry. Enjoy :)

---------

His hair was so
spikey and tousled that it almost looked curly or windblown. I wondered
what it would be like to run my fingers through it. If it would feel
like straw from baking in the summer sun all day or if it would just
slide like silk throughmy fingers.

"And that really didn't give me any information about you. If
you're going to man handle me, I should at least know your name. And if
you plan on doing it again you should really get me a drink first."

He laughed, exhaling a mouthful of smoke. His full lips almost made
an O shape as he laughed, bringing out the dimples that curved around
his lip line. "Alright, you got me there. I'm Blaine. Blaine who's lived
here all his life. Blaine the grunt forthe parish highway department."

"Well I didn't want your whole life story!" I squealed. I was
flirting. I couldn't help it, and he really was cute in an old faded
blue jeans sort of way.

I didn't think that I would ever date
a guy from Elsbury. He probably spent all day working and then going
home to watch car racing. He probably drove a big red truck and blared
Charlie Daniels. A guy like Blaine just didn't fit the description
ofguys that I was normally attracted to, but with every lingering gaze I
found myself wanting to know more about this southern boy.

"Yeah, well that ain't the half of it." He stopped and finished his
clove. I thought he was going to say something more, but then he looked
all around us. "Hey, where did your cousin go?"

"Hmm..? Oh, Brittany? I'm sure she is fine." I waved my hand in front of me before letting it fall flat.

"You
really are dense aren't you?" He flicked his clove off of the porch,
narrowing his eyes at me before he walked back inside with long, quick
strides.

I stormed after him, pushing past plaid shirted guys and tube top
clad girls. "What the hell? You're the one that dragged me outside
remember?" I turned Blaine toward me as we got into the living room,
trying to ignore how toned his biceps were. Ihad to resist the urge to
trace my fingers down them.

"You leave a fifteen-year-old girl alone at a party and expect
everything is just going to be alright?" He raised his voice. I didn't
like being told what I should be doing or being questioned by a guy I
barely knew. Especially a guy that had draggedme outside when I was
trying to chase after Britt in the first place.

"I'm sure she's fine, I mean she's the one who invited me to this
party!" I threw an arm out to the side. "And if it's so bad, then why
are you here?" I crossed my arms and smirked, trying to make my point.

"Because I am a nineteen-year-old man, not a fifteen-year-old girl
whose cousin just used her like a stripper pole!" He screamed that last
part, and headed off toward one of the bedrooms. Everyone was staring at
us. I put my head down and tried notto let everyone see how red I’m
sure my face was as I hurried to catch up with Blaine.

I caught up to him standing in an open doorway, and staring as he
leaned in on the door frame. A small crowd of people were positioned in
the room lit by only black lights and cluttered with posters of
psychedelic pink mushrooms and other brightly coloredplants. As the
cloud of smoke lifted I saw my little cousin, curled up on the corner of
an old wooden futon with a plastic cup in one hand and her mouth
wrapped around a giant green bong that was being lit by some guy with a
porn star mustache. I gasped, coveringmy own mouth in horror.

"Real responsible aren't we?" Blaine whispered as he headed back out toward the party.

"Hey
cuz!" Brittany giggled, letting out a huge cloud of smoke. "Want a
hit?" She held out the large green bong toward me. I had never smoked
pot and never planned to, but I wasn't a stranger to it. It wasn't like a
lot of Beau's fraternity brothersdidn't spend their time hitting the
bong.

I threw my arms down and stomped over to Brittany. "No I do not
want a hit! We are leaving!" I pulled her up off the couch, it was like
pulling dead weight, but I managed to get her up.

"Come on
girl! The party is just getting started, and I got a spot for you right
here." I looked down to see a Hispanic boy in a cowboy hat wiping his
mouth, suggesting that I should sit on it.

"Ew..." I wrinkled my nose in disgust and pulled Brittany out of the room.

"Oh
come on cuz, we were just having some fun!" Brittany laughed as she
chugged the contents of the cup down and then threw the empty cup on the
ground. She then turned to me with a serious glint in her bloodshot
eyes.

"You were probably having fun with Blaine anyways!" She pointed at me, staggering back and forth.

"Trust
me Britt. There is NOTHING going on with me and Blaine. I don't think
there is going to be any luck with guys for me in this entire parish." I
gritted as I pulled her toward the door.

About Magan:

Self-proclaimed geek-to-glam
poster child who channels her inner geek by writing science fiction for
teens, even though she slept with a night light until she was in middle
school for fear of alien attacks. She now lives with her husband,
daughter, and dog in central Illinois where she still sleeps with a
night light...just in case.

IRIDESCENT

Candra Ember used to dream of saving the world one person at a
time. She never expected to become an angelic weapon and the last hope
in the battle against ultimate darkness.

Falling for a
Nephilim wasn’t part of Sebastian’s plan. Distraction is something he
can’t afford when his rival, Draven, wants what Sebastian has.

Lies,
manipulation and corruption are twisting the lives of the citizens in
Acheron. The Arch is missing from Heaven and a demon is intent on
claiming the city. At a time they should be growing closer, grief and
paranoia is driving Candra and Sebastian apart.

If the price of restoring the Watchers to Heaven is a human soul, who deserves to be saved?

Rebecca Robbins is desperate to sell her inherited
roller-skating rink in small-town Indian Falls, and---finally---she
has a buyer. She can’t wait to head back to Chicago, especially now that
her long delinquent father has blown back into town, but Lionel, her
veterinarian boyfriend, thinks she should stay put. Also, the gang at
the Senior Center wants her to track down the thief who’s been
hot-wiring rusted-out classic cars.

Unable to resist, Rebecca soon has the Sheriff’s Deputy
threatening to arrest her for obstruction, and strange but scary men
threatening her life. Then cars start exploding, with people in them,
and Rebecca’s father goes missing. With the help of Pop, her
Elvis-impersonating grandfather, Rebecca must find the pyromaniac car
thief and put a stop to him---before he stops her first.

Skating Over the Line is the second novel in a delightful cozy series filled with small town charm and delicious laughs.

Readers who haven't jumped on the Rebecca Robbins bandwagon are missing out on a fiery temper and the only Indian Falls resident to out-investigate local police. Joelle Charbonneau once again charms fans with the humorous cast of characters and suspenseful plot of Skating Over the Line!

With Rebecca's father back in town and exploding cars haunting the small town of Indian Falls, one would think Charbonneau would ease up on the amateur sleuth. Alas, Rebecca has to deal with the fact that the skating rink is on its way to being sold, and her decision about where her relationship is going with Lionel comes with a ticking time limit.

The mystery is more complex and has even more troubling surprises. Charbonneau has the gift of making the mystery daunting and filled with obstacles, and when the case is solved, readers finish with an effect much similar to the proverbial 'light bulb' flashing on. Skating Over the Line starts with one main issue and they keep piling on as Rebecca deals with death threats and meeting real estate contract contingencies. It's the kind of mystery that effectively keeps readers in the dark and surprised when all is said and done.

To miss a novel of the Rebecca Robbins mystery is to miss Joelle Charbonneau's clever and suspenseful plots brought to life with so much energy. Thankfully, for mystery fans, the fun continues in Skating on the Edge!

For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad
even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She's had plenty of
visions, usually boring ones like someone's toilet's overflowed, but
she's never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds
up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn't
enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out,
and Rose is the prime suspect.

Rose realizes she's
wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a
Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her
vision comes true. She's well on her way with the help of her next door
neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking,
but won't help with number fifteen-- do more with a man. Joe's new to
town, but it doesn't take a vision for Rose to realize he's got plenty
secrets of his own.

Somebody thinks Rose has
something they want and they'll do anything to get it. Her house is
broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a
virgin in the Fenton County jail isn't her biggest worry after all.

TWENTY-NINE AND A HALF REASONS

When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she’s lucky to
get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous
encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Mason Deveraux,
she’s picked as a juror on a murder case. As the trial progresses, she
realizes an ominous vision she had in the men’s restroom proves the
defendant is innocent. And there’s not a cotton picking thing she can do
about it.Or is there?

As if things weren’t bad enough,
Rose’s older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet
insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state
detective Joe Simmons and date other men. Rose is done letting people
boss her around, but she can’t commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn’t
about to let the best thing in her life slip away.

THE HANDS OF TIME

by Irina Shapiro
Publication Date: December 7, 2011
Pages/Format:

When a young woman
vanishes without a trace from a quaint fishing village on the coast of
England only one person knows the truth, but he remains silent allowing
the authorities to search for her in vain.

Meanwhile, Valerie
Crane finds herself transported to the year 1605. Terrified and confused
she turns for help to the Whitfield brothers, who take her in and offer
her a home. Both Alexander and Finlay Whitfield fall in love with the
mysterious woman who shows up on their doorstep creating a love triangle
that threatens to consume them all. Valerie must make her choice,
deciding between the brother who will lead her down the path of
destruction or one who will give her a love she couldn’t find in her own
time.

Remember to look for the scavenger hunt word in the post! Once you have the whole phrase you can enter it HERE!

Deleted Scene:

This is a scene from Nightmare that I
ended up cutting because it broke the flow of the book. I saved
the beginning of this scene for use in Numb because it actually
works there. But since events in Nightmare prevent the rest of
this scene from happening, I couldn't use this specific part. So
I'm sharing it with you! It features the double date that Ava,
Peter, Tex and Viktor go on, but they have an unexpected visitor. -- Chelsea M. Cameron

“Is this lovely?” A British accent
that I've come to despise pops our shiny date bubble.

“Ivan.” Peter doesn't grit his
teeth or spit out the name, but the sentiment is there. He
shoves me behind him. Typical guy. Viktor takes a defensive
stance in front of Tex. I know we're human and women and all,
but it kind of bugged me in weird way. Peter and I had gone
through all this Claiming business so that Ivan couldn't touch
me. And he was still trying to be all manly and protective.

“Come now, there's no need for
that. I'm not here to ruin your little get together. I just
wanted to make a little visit.”

“You already did that. You came,
you saw, you conquered. Why are you still here?” I can't help
the words that spill out of my mouth.

“Who's that?” Tex mouths at me from
behind Viktor's back. God, I never wanted to get her into this.
I told Peter I thought we were tempting fate by pretending like
everything was normal. And I was right. I didn't want to be
right. It sucks to be right, right now.

“You need to leave.”

“But I just got here, and I have
not met this creature yet.” He tries to sidle around Viktor, but
he doesn't get very far.”

For the first time in her life, Tex
keeps her mouth shut and doesn't make some sort of comment. Her
wide eyes behind her glasses tell me she's really freaked out.
Well, join the freaking club.

REBELS BY ACCIDENT

by Patricia Dunn

Publication Date: August 16, 2012

Publisher: Alikai Press

Pages/Format: 290; Paperback

Source: ARC

A coming-of-age tale of an Egyptian-American teen looking for love and adventure.

When
my first party ends in jail, I think things can’t possibly get worse.
But then my parents send me to my grandmother in Cairo, and I’m sure my
life is over. My sittu is Darth Vader’s evil sister, and I’m sure the
only sites I’ll get to see in Egypt are the rooms in her apartment. Turns out she’s not so bad. We ride camels by the pyramids and ice skate at a mall.

As
Sittu says, “Sometimes a moment can change your life.” But it can
change the life of a country too. When a girl named Asmaa calls the
people of Egypt to protest, I find myself in the middle of a revolution,
running from tear gas and guns.

Oh yeah, and I meet the cutest guy I’ve ever seen. Fall in love for the first time. And have my first kiss.

NEVER SAY NEVER

What girl wouldn't want to be surrounded by the sexy guys from the hottest teen rock sensation in the country? 18-year-old Never "Neve" Knight, not only is surrounded by the hottest boys to hit the music charts, but she is the band's lead singer. As the band's lead singer and manager, Never formed and shaped the band to where it is today, a band on the rise and on the brink of being signed by a label. As one of the guys, she knew each of the band members since they were all snot-nose ten-year-olds. While her boys were the cutest guys and they would protect her like knights, she couldn't date any one of them and ruin the chance at being signed with the record label of her dreams.

That changes when one of the band members suddenly drops out of the band, and in walks Danny Blue, with his dreamy blue eyes, hot body, and British accent. Suddenly, Never's solid world has turned to mush, and her rule for not dating one of her band members is seriously challenged. Can she keep her head straight and get her band signed with a label without losing her heart?

Kailin Gow rocks the world with her latest contemporary novel, Never Say Never! Intense is the only way to describe how she so easily captures the audience's attention with Neve's passion for music and life with famous parents. This determined college freshman will not only incite inspiration in all musical and artsy readers, but she will give all Gow fans what they know and love: an entertaining and strong female lead.

Never Knight is reluctant to love someone more than her love for music, so it's a big deal when the issue of dating versus casual sex pops up among the band she manages and plays for, the Never Knights. All throughout the jealousies and almost major setbacks, Never somehow manages to stay true to herself without breaking most of her own rules. There's a lingering feeling that the little red bow this novel's romance has been wrapped in will unravel as Never navigates her rising fame and fends off crazed fans. It's exciting to see Kailin venture into this world and there is no telling what to expect other than sheer brilliance!

Never Say Never has all of Kailin's usual flare and more. Love interests galore, a witty protagonist, and unexpected outcomes. The Never Knights series has a strong beginning and will only get even better from here! The deep emotional scars underlying the actions and words of the very real characters forebodes that the band's dynamic will change and that Neve's life in the spotlight is set for a rocky course.

The fast approaching sequel, Never Land will make quite the appearance on reader wishlists after a taste of Never Say Never's rocking plot!

A very unique fact about your
books is that most were inspired by personal experiences, are there any that
can be attributed to Never Say Never’s
plot?

Yes! Back in college, as an undergraduate, I
executive produced and hosted a few radio shows that were a combination of talk
radio and music. From there, I got to
know a few bands and celebrities. One of
my co-hosts was a tour promoter for a few of the indie bands and got involved with
some band members as well. I’ve always
been involved in music in some way or another. I played the violin in high school orchestra, and have always played the
piano. In college, I took up drums and
played keyboard, and played a little bit of guitar. It wasn’t a surprise that I started a band in
college, as well, which was short-lived but fun at the same time.

I really enjoyed
writing from a college-age heroine’s perspective in Never Say Never, too, since
it gives me a chance to explore more issues of growing up than I can for a
younger audience. Things that are
complicated (especially with relationships) can be explored, career choices,
friendships and the boundaries between friendships and “friends with benefits”,
and identity can be explored. When I was
an undergrad, I worked at as a paid peer adviser, and part of what I did at the
Women’s Center was to put on programs for the college community and community
at large that dealt with all and any women’s issues. There were many, and I think because college
is such a huge milestone and stage in a woman’s life…the stage when they are no
longer a child, but a “new” adult, there is a lot of confusion and questions
that come up during this time period. I
love exploring all this in Never Say Never as well as any YA-Mature/New Adult
books I have.

Your newest female lead has one of
the most unique names around; it literally just rolls right off the tongue! How
did you decide on ‘Never Knight’?

I love
playing with the name “Never” because it’s poetic and the kind of name a rock
star would name his child. Never is the
child of a rock star and a swimsuit model, so her name has to be unique like
that, but still be playful.

Your female protagonists are
usually the most level minded, headstrong, and endearing characters in young
adult fiction. How would you characterize Never?

A natural born
leader (she’s the only child of a rock legend so she has this amazing
confidence), and very loving, big hearted, generous, and she constantly wants
to do what’s right. She’s independent,
bold, and charismatic. In Never Say
Never, she’s a young woman who is also coming into her own – identity and
becoming a woman.

Can you tell us a little about the
guys in the band with Never?

All the
guys in the band are childhood friends of Neve’s. Except Danny Blue, who she meets in
college. There’s Steve, who used to be a
scrawny kid who was bullied as a kid, but got mad enough to bulk up and become
a tough guy no one wants to mess with. He’s very loyal to Neve and is roommates/best friends with Lucas (Luc),
who is dark-haired and dark-eyed, the son of a police officer and teacher. Luc comes from a warm big family that is
opposite of Neve’s upbringing. Luc and
Neve met at music camp as kids. Kyle is
the golden boy who practically grew up in the same house as Neve. He’s the nephew of Neve’s father’s
housekeeper, and basically grew up hanging around Neve. Then there’s Geoff, who met Neve at music camp
a while back, but isn’t as close to Neve as the others. He’s more Steve’s friend.

Of course,
there’s Danny Blue, who is British, hot, talented, and very seductive. He’s a little bit older than Neve and the
other guys, and worldly, sophisticated, and has more to him than meets the eye.

Never Say Never will be your third foray into the contemporary
genre, following Saving You, Saving Me
and Loving Summer. Can you tell us
what to expect from the novel and whether there are any sequels in the works?

You can
expect a lot more mature themes, because this is the rock world and college
life. Having worked at a women’s center,
I know firsthand about some of the issues college women experience - identity,
self-awareness, body image consciousness, asserting independence, sexual
experiences, and more.

What has influenced your decision to
write these contemporary novels geared toward the more mature edge of the young
adult audience?

All the memories of
college life that came pouring out of me during a visit to the university of my
undergraduate years. I was very involved
in college, worked as a peer adviser at a Women’s Center, counseled young women
and peers on many issues including sexual relations, held workshops and
seminars on all kinds of topics that related to young women and women in
general, had a radio show on those topics. That was when I was 19,20, and 21. Now I’m older, married, have a child, and a whole lot more experience
with those topics so it gives me a broader and deeper perspective than before.

I will
tailor the intensity of maturity based on the story, the characters, and the
themes. It’s to preserve the integrity
of the story being told. In Never Say
Never, I intentionally chose to include more mature scenes because Never is in
college and there is a certain level of maturity you come across during college
or when you hit 18 and up. Suddenly
you’re an adult, and with that, comes more adult experiences.

Thank you so much for stopping by
Lovey Dovey Books Kailin! Any parting words for your loyal fans and the much
welcomed newbies?

My
pleasure! Thank you for having me :D

About Kailin . . .

Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the
majority of them for young adults. Her most popular series are: The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire
Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett Novels, and more. A full-time author, she is also a producer,
having worked in radio, television, and film. She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had
traveled extensively around the world.

Rebecca Robbins is a
woman on a mission---to sell the roller rink she inherited from her
mother and get back to Chicago. Fast. However, when she discovers the
dead body of the town’s handyman headfirst in a rink toilet, potential
buyers are scared off. Now Rebecca is stuck in a small town where her
former neighbors think she doesn’t belong, living with her scarily
frisky grandfather, Pop, and relying on a police department that’s
better at gardening than solving crimes.

Eager to move forward with
her life, Rebecca begins investigating the murder herself, reluctantly
accepting help from Pop and his extensive social network, which includes
a handsome veterinarian and a former circus camel named Elwood.
Nevertheless, someone isn’t happy she’s looking into the case, and their
threats will have her questioning whether playing sleuth was such a
good idea after all.

Joelle Charbonneau’s debut is a sheer delight---a laugh-out-loud mystery with plenty of heart.

Joelle Charbonneau's Skating Around the Law is a fun and exciting mystery that will leave readers in stitches of laughter! Every unexpected turn of the plot is suspense filled and mixed with a little attraction and humor.

Charbonneau doesn't waste time when introducing readers to her star character, Rebecca Robbins. On a temporary stay in her hometown, Indian Falls, Rebecca is determined to sell her late mother's skating rink. The only problem is that no one is interested in real estate when death is involved. Rebecca takes it upon herself to investigate and find the murderer of the town's handy man, Mack. The faster the case closes, the faster she's back in Chicago.

For a mortgage broker, Rebecca does surprisingly well when asking questions and looking for clues. Her ability to take charge without fear, even if her motivations are somewhat selfish, sets Rebecca as a pleasant and admirable lead. Charbonneau hits the nail on the head when it comes to characterization for the whole cast. Even the minor characters, and not just the human ones, bring entertainment to the story to keep it light-hearted between the sneaking and sleuthing.

Skating Around the Law is the perfect novel to introduce readers to the mind of Joelle Charbonneau. Her idea of mystery is easy-going, fascinating, and suspenseful all wrapped in one. Following the first book of the series is Skating Over the Line, which is bound to be one of the greatest sequels known to mystery lovers!

OUTSYSTEM

Someone is out to stop
the GSS Intrepid, an interstellar colony ship, from being completed on
schedule and beginning its journey to 82 Eridani. When anti-colonial
activist groups are suspected, Major Tanis Richards, wrongfully
disgraced officer in the field of military intelligence and counter
insurgency, is brought onboard with all due haste.

Events in
Tanis's past have motivated her to leave Sol and start a new life
elsewhere. She soon discerns that more than simple activist groups are
arrayed against the ship and its crew. There are corporations and
governments that have a vested interest in ensuring that the Intrepid
never leaves the Sol System.

Tanis tightens security and fights
political red tape while running up against assassins and mercenaries
sent to the stop her and the Intrepid at every turn. The new friends and
relationships she forges strengthen her resolve to protect the ship and
keep its crew and colonists safe as they endeavor to head outsystem.

THE WILD ONES

Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.

Camille “Cami” Hines is the darling daughter of the South’s champion thoroughbred breeder, Jack Hines. She has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was pretty happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future.

But that was before she met Patrick Henley.

“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her. He’s considered the “help,” which is forbidden fruit as far as her father is concerned, not to mention that Trick would be fired if he ever laid a hand on her. And Trick needs his job. Desperately. His family depends on him.

The heart wants what the heart wants, though, and Trick and Cami are drawn to each other despite the obstacles. At least the ones they know of.

When Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, secrets that could tear them apart.

Excerpt

Sipping my beer, I look around at the familiar scene. If the honky tonk music blaring from the speakers in the ceiling hadn’t been enough to scream COUNTRY BAR, the sea of cowboy hats would have been. I smile as I adjust the black one that sits atop my own head. I love being incognito. Even if, by chance, someone I know stumbles into the smoke-filled dive, they’d never believe it was me looking out from beneath the brim.

Something hits the back of my barstool—hard—just as I put the glass to my lips. Ice cold beer pours down my chin and straight into my cleavage. I suck in a breath.

“’Scuse me,” a deep voice rumbles in my ear. Two hands grip my upper arms and pull me back, keeping me from tipping right out of my seat. I’m looking down at my soggy jeans and t-shirt when I feel the hands disappear. Half a second later, a face appears in my line of sight. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

The most amazing eyes I’ve ever seen are staring back at me. They are pale greenish-gray, rimmed in sooty lashes and filled with concern.

A sharp jab to my shin makes me let out the breath I hadn’t been aware of holding. I see my best friend Jenna’s head poke out from behind the mystery face. I know she kicked me and I know she’s trying to get my attention, but I can’t look away rom these eyes long enough to glare at her.

God, his eyes! I’ve never seen eyes that make me want to gasp and giggle and do a strip tease all at once. But these do.

They flicker down, letting me go just long enough to collect my wits. I find very few of them. They are well and truly scattered. When he looks back up at me, his eyes are wrinkled at the corners. He’s smiling. And holy hell, what a smile it is!

“Does it make me a bad person for liking your shirt better his way?”

I glance down at myself. My dark pink bra is plainly visible through the now-wet paper thin material of my pale pink shirt. So are my very erect nipples. I blush, mortified.

Why, oh why did I wear a light pink t-shirt with a dark pink bra?

Because you can’t see your bra through it when it’s dry, dumb ass.

A thumb brushes my right cheek. “God, that’s sexy,” he whispers. Against my will, my eyes fly to his face. His smile has died to a lopsided grin that is devastation in its purest form.